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But then the wings of the Valkyrie pulsed with light once. Then twice. On the third pulse, five runes appeared aroundYggdrasil,burning red like the fires of Maude’s soul.

Five runes, not three as her mother had written in her journals.

Uruz. Hagalaz. Gebo. Dagaz. Eihwaz.

Power. Destruction. Unity. Transformation. Balance.

“I don’t understand,” Bryn finally said, her voice barely a whisper.

“The runedagazmeans transformation, but it also means reincarnation,” the King said softly. “Maude did die in Logi, but the Valkyries brought her back.”

They were all silent as his words resonated through them.

“But why?” Hakon asked, unable to look away from the burning runes that circled Maude’s fatemark.

“Because her fate is not to die in the name of sacrifice,” he explained, pointing to the runeeihwaz. “It is to bring balance to our lands. It is to unite the Elven and the people of Ahland.”

“I don’t see how,” Liv said as the runes imprinted themselves aroundYggdrasil, permanently altering Maude’s fatemark. “She is the Heir of Flame— she cannot rule all kingdoms with only fire and air.”

The King of Shadows was quiet for a moment as Liv’s statement hovered around them. Bryn then knew what his next words would be, knew why the King of Shadows had looked so familiar to her before.

“She is not the Heir of Flame, Liv,” the King said, looking at Bryn now, who still had not taken her eyes off her sister’s face.

Half-sister, Bryn corrected.

“Maude is the Heir of Shadows and my daughter.”